Spring.



F. E. WILCOX.

SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED Aus.22. I913.

I Patented Jan. 4,

Snow Hoi- COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON, D. c.

FRANK wI-LeoX, or MECHANIG'SB'URG,IPENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

, SPRING.

Patented J an.- 4, 1916.

To 'all whom it may Concern."

Be it known that "I, FRAN'K'E. "\VIL'ooX, a citizen of the limited States, residing at M'echanicsburg, in the 'c'ountyo'f Cumberland and State of Pennsylvaniafhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Springs, of which the following is a specification.

The main object of theinventi'on'is the provision of spring means especially adapted for use in supporting the bodies of automobiles and other vehicles'whereby the weight of the body initially will be supported by a'sp'ring, preferably a 'fieiiible leaf or leaves of low capacity, insuring an easy motion at relatively slow speed, and

when the b'o'dy'inoves u wardly and "down- Wardly through a greater distance, which action accompanies relativelyhighspe'eds or the passage over rough roads or obstructions, the additional'kinetic energy will be transmitted to a spring or springs of much higher capacity. IIoweve'nparts'of the entire spring means may be used to support a body directly under all conditions of service and when the above recited mode of operation is not the essential end to be attained.

The invention consists in certain novelties of construction and combinations of parts as herein set forth and claimed.

The accompanying drawing illustrates two complete examples of the embodiment of the invention and one modification constructed according to the best modesofprocedure I have so far devised for attaining the main purpose, but, as before stated, parts only of the spring means shown may be used forthe entire support of the body.

Figure l is a view in elevation of spring means comprising two main semi-elliptic springs of relatively high capacity and a supplemental spring of relatively low capacity. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of spring means comprising a semi-elliptic.

spring and a supplemental leaf spring of less capacity than the semi-elliptic spring, connected with part of the frame of an automobile. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the levers to which the several springs are pivoted. Fig. 4 is a part view of spring means similar to one end of Fig. 1, but having a slightly modified construction of lever.

Referring to Fig. 1, the numerals 1' and 2 designate the two semi-elliptic springs of. relatively high capacity. the spring 2 in this instance being shorter than the spring 1, as

shown; 3, thesupplemental spring of rela tively iow capacity located below the spring 1 and'opp'osite' the concave-surface of spring- Zand consisting'of a "single lea'f,though a plurality of leaves may-be used; and 4,, 4: are the levers to which the ends of the springs arepiv'oted. Asshown by Fig. '3,

eachleve'r is'in one piece, preferably-forged toshape. It consists-of two perforated side bar's united-byintermediate connecting cross pieces 5, 5. The springs 1 and 2ha've'eyes at the ends and arepivoted to the levers by bolts 6withmuts 7 on tllie'ends.

The *combination in Fig. 2 I differs from thatof Fig. l in s'ubstituting forthe spring ltheside' piece 8 oftheunder frame of an automobile. A bra'cket '9 is securedto the sideipiec'e 8, to wl'iichbra'cket-one end "of a lever is pivoted, the other lever being pivoted'toth'e end '10 of the side piece, as shown. 1

The levers, lower main springs, supplemental spring'andboltsof Figs. '2 and 4: are

"designated by thesam-e numerals as used in Fig. 1. In bothexamples and 'Fig. @P is the powerarm and W the weight armor the lever, and F the fulcrum which is loc'atedat'the-ends of the spring 2 and as the spring can bend slightly the fulcrum'is movable to a degree' The springs 2 are secured to an axle orother support at X and the power transmitted or applied to the and secured intermediate its ends to the side piece 8 by a clip 1.1, or otherwise.

The modification, Fig. 4, has the ends of the three springs pivoted directly to the lever. In Figs. 1 and 2 a movable pivotal connection between the ends ofspring 3 and arm W isprovided by slotting the arm W at 12 and locating friction rollers 13 on the bolts 6 so as to allow the elongation of the spring as it is flexed under the action of the levers.

plemental spring 3, may be used in connection with substitutes for the spring 1 and side piece 8, in which case the spring 3 may be of increased capacity or composed of several leaves. Again, one-half of the spring means may be used, to the exclusion of the remainder.

The mode of operation is as follows: When the vehicle is moving at a relatively low speed the spring 8 carries the body yieldingly, but when it is moving at a high speed or is passing over a rough road, or when obstructions are encountered, the levers turn about their fulcrums until the spring 3 is flexed and brought into frictional contact with the spring 1 of the side piece 8, then the additional kinetic energy is transmitted to the springs 1 and 2 in the first example and to the spring 2 in the second example.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a main semi-elliptic shaped spring, a lever having three pivotal points, a supplemental leaf spring facing the concave surface of the said main semi-elliptic spring; the said lever being pivoted intermediate its ends to the end of the main spring, its outer end extending outside of and beyond the main spring and its inner end overlapping the spring; and a support of greater length than the length of either of the two springs pivoted tosaid outer end of the lever, and the inner end of the lever pivoted to the end of the supplemental spring; means being provided in connection with the lever to permit the elongation of the supplemental spring when being flexed.

2. The combination of a main semi-ellip tic shaped spring, two levers each having three pivotal points, a supplemental leaf spring facing the concave surface of the semi-elliptic spring; said levers being p-ivoted each intermediate its ends to opposite ends of the semi-elliptic spring, the outer end of each lever extending outwardly and exterior to the end of said semi-elliptic spring and the inner end overlapping the spring; and a support of greater length than the length of each of the two springs pivoted to the extreme outer ends of the levers, and the inner ends of the levers pivoted to opposite ends of the supplemental leaf spring; means being provided in connection with the levers to permit the elongation of the supplemental spring when being flexed.

The combination of a main semi-elliptic shaped spring, a lever having three pivotal points, a supplemental leaf spring of less capacity than said semi-elliptic spring facing the concave surface of the said main semi-elliptic spring; the said lever being pivoted intermediate its ends to the end of the main spring, its outer end extending outside of and beyond the main spring and its inner end overlapping the spring; and a support of greater length than the length of either of the two springs pivoted to said outer end of the lever, and the inner end of the lever pivoted to the end of the supplemental spring; means being provided in connection with the lever to permit the elcngaticn of the supplemental spring when being flexed.

e. The combination of a main semi-elliptic shaped spring, two levers each having three pivotal points, a supplemental leaf spring of less capacity than said semi-elliptic spring facing the concave surface of the semi-elliptic spring; said levers being pivoted each intermediate its ends to opposite ends of the semi-elliptic spring, the outer end of each lever extending outwardly and exterior to the end of said semi-elliptic spring and the inner end overlapping the spring; and a support of greater length than the length of each of the two springs pivoted to the extreme outer ends of the levers, and the inner ends of the levers pivoted to opposite ends of the supplemental leaf spring; means being provided in connection with the levers to permit the elongation of the supplemental spring when being flexed.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK E. WILCOX.

Witnesses l). V. Zinornn, J. E. Hosanna,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0., 

